The Secret Affairs of the Fake Duke Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Cain opened his mouth, then closed it again. Bringing up that story would make the conversation drag on too long. Recalling the list of tasks he needed to complete, Cain picked up his pen without hesitation.
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“I’m disappointed.”
“If you want more work, just say so right now.”
“Who’s curious anyway? I’m not curious at all. Don’t you dare say a word.”
Nathan spoke firmly. He hesitated, as if he still had something more to say. Cain pointed to the clock—urging him to speak quickly if he had anything else.
Nathan sighed.
“Do you know about… him?”
“Know what?”
“The secret surrounding His Grace’s parents’ deaths.”
The late Duke Hastings had died at the hands of rebels.
“It’s connected to that young lady’s parents as well.”
The late Duke and Duchess Hastings’ names had appeared on the rebels’ elimination list. It was Gillian Whitney who had reviewed that list, wasn’t it?
Had the rebellion succeeded, the Whitneys would have brought down the Hastings dukedom.
Cain’s eyes darkened. He fell deep in thought.
He seethed with rage over the truth behind his own parents’ deaths. Unaware of any of this, he had spent two full years as the royal court’s loyal dog, all for the Whitney family’s restoration.
It had been utterly unnecessary. The Whitneys were the ones who had betrayed him.
At that moment, Phil handed him a letter, noticing his distress.
〈This is a letter Miss Jane left for you two years ago. You departed immediately back then, so I’m only delivering it now.〉
The letter was filled with harsh words. The first page overflowed with curses and resentment toward the Hastings family; the second was laden with accusations of Cain’s incompetence.
She had trampled upon Cain’s love and reduced their precious memories to ashes.
That letter completely erased any lingering affection or attachment Cain had held for Jane.
Now, he could calmly wish for the Whitney family’s utter ruin.
“Keep it a secret for now. Everyone involved is already dead—if they deny it, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Yes, understood. And will you continue visiting the gentlemen’s club?”
“Why ask something so obvious?”
“Now that you’re married, perhaps you should cut back on your late-night outings. Rumors might start spreading.”
“Aren’t I already known as a playboy?”
“That may be true, but there’s no need to add ‘adulterer’ to your reputation. Besides, being called a playboy is unfair enough as it is.”
The rumors about Cain sleeping with numerous women were exactly that—rumors. It was true he occasionally accompanied ladies to hotel rooms connected to the gentlemen’s club, but only to gather information.
Of course, some women misunderstood and threw themselves at him. Each time, Cain politely declined them.
Hurt by his rejections, those women would spread odd rumors the next day—claiming they’d spent an unforgettable night with Cain.
Cain never bothered to correct those rumors.
“I’m not the least bit upset. Now get back to work.”
“I’m the one who’s upset. Just give me that face, that perfect body, right now.”
Cain chuckled at Nathan’s grumbling—just as he was about to lower his head back to his paperwork.
“One more thing, if I may. When will you tell Miss Jane about Master Joseph?”
“About Joseph? What about him?”
Cain had no idea what Nathan was talking about. Jane and Joseph hadn’t even formally met yet—what was there to tell her?
“That Master Joseph isn’t your biological son. The truth is, Master Joseph is actually….”
Cain, who had been silently listening, raised his hand to cut Nathan off.
“It’s not that I intend to do anything—I just miss him, that’s all.”
“That’s enough.”
His expression was resolute and stern.
“Understood. I won’t say another word.”
Nathan knew if he pushed any further, he’d get severely scolded, so he closed his mouth and returned to his seat.
Nathan understood why Cain had taken Joseph in—but he couldn’t agree with Cain’s decision to hide the truth from everyone and raise him as his own son.
After all, Joseph was none other than *his* son.
“Stop thinking about it.”
“Understood. I’ll get back to work.”
Seeing Nathan pull a tall stack of documents toward himself, Cain also turned his attention back to his own paperwork.
〈Why did it have to be Miss Jane?〉
His hand, flipping through pages one by one, suddenly stopped. Nathan’s question had abruptly surfaced in his mind. Norbert had asked him the exact same thing.
Only Norbert’s question had carried a faint note of reproach.
He’d been worried Cain would completely ruin Jane’s life.
“Isn’t it more like I saved her?”
If it hadn’t been for him, she’d have been dragged off by a bastard like Victor and forced into a wretched existence.
Though it was possible she wouldn’t find a clean resolution, at least he’d give Jane a chance.
Whether she’d be broken… or not….
Just as a tender expression began to fade from Cain’s face, revealing his cold interior—
Knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door.
“It’s Jane.”
At the unexpected visitor’s arrival, Nathan sharply raised his head.
[This is the timeline separator]Jane stood before Cain’s study, taking a deep breath. She had just come from leaving her luggage in her room, guided by Norbert.
Her room was a north-facing guest chamber.
Hardly fitting for the future Duchess of Hastings staying at Somnium House.
〈I’m truly sorry, Miss.〉
Norbert had looked deeply apologetic while showing her the room.
But Jane actually liked it.
〈I’ll suggest to His Grace that we switch your room.〉
〈Don’t, Norbert. I’m satisfied.〉
Jane spoke sincerely.
Though it didn’t get much sunlight, the room was twice as large and far more luxurious than the house on the hill where she’d previously stayed.
It had large windows, sky-blue wallpaper shimmering like water on the walls, a canopy bed wide enough for three adults, and soft, down-filled blankets.
Instead of a musty mold smell, the room carried a pleasant fragrance—and hot water would surely gush from the bathroom taps.
This was more than enough.
She didn’t need ornate tapestries or gold-trimmed furniture.
Best of all, it was far from Cain’s quarters.
Jane’s room was at the very end of the fourth floor; Cain’s space was on the second.
Yet the fact remained—they lived under the same roof. A sharp ache pierced her chest.
Jane felt lost and confused. Until that morning, her goal had been to become friends with Cain. But on her way back, that purpose had crumbled into dust.
Then why must I stay here?
Cain’s proposal served his own aims. Jane needed a purpose of her own—she’d lived that way for the past seven years.
She didn’t need to create a new one. She already had a single purpose tied to Cain.
To rid herself of lingering feelings and guilt toward him.
To stop loving him.
‘Yes, that’s enough.’
With a clear purpose, her doubts vanished. Jane slowly paced around the room, envisioning her life ahead.
‘Since Cain suggested starting wedding preparations, should I begin with a dress? Or settle on a date first? What should I do?’
Typically, noble marriages were arranged and managed entirely by the parents.
The bride and groom only needed to appear when summoned and state their consent.
But Jane and Cain had no parents.
They’d never specifically discussed how they’d proceed.
Jane had already received so much from him. Since they’d decided to go through with it, she wanted to do it well.
She couldn’t afford to bring further shame upon his household.
Determined to clarify the details of their arrangement, Jane headed toward Cain’s study.
She found it without guidance, relying only on her memory.
The corridor of Cain’s private floor was empty—no maids passed by. Someone must have given strict orders, knowing Cain preferred quiet.
Jane raised her hand to knock—but hesitated, repeatedly lifting and lowering it.
〈Please part ways with Cain.〉
The Duchess Hastings’ voice echoed in her mind, recalling how she’d tightly gripped Jane’s hand while saying those words. Jane’s body quickly turned cold.
She rubbed her hands together and took a deep breath.
This was a memory she had to overcome if she wanted to live here.
Biting hard on the inside of her cheek, Jane finally managed a faint knock.
“ It’s Jane.”
No reply came from inside.
She’d checked his schedule with Norbert—had something changed in the meantime?
Just as Jane turned to leave, the door opened.
A young man with light brown hair widened his eyes briefly before returning them to their usual size.
“May the Goddess’s glory be with you. I am Nathan Nathan. It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Jane.”
“May the Goddess’s blessing be with you. I’m Jane Whitney. His Grace’s….”
“Fiancée, of course. His Grace is inside.”
Seeing Jane falter, unsure how to explain herself, Nathan smoothly finished the introduction for her.
Jane nodded and stepped through the open door. Her eyes widened at the sight of the study.
Though its location remained the same as before, the interior was completely different.
Because of this, Jane didn’t have to recall her last memory of this place.
The high-ceilinged room held bookshelves crammed with books along both side walls.
The guest sofa and table were gone, replaced by a large oval desk taking center stage.
“That desk is used for meetings.”
Noticing Jane’s gaze fixed on the desk, Nathan explained. He then pointed toward the far end of the left bookshelf.
“His Grace is inside, through there.”
An arched doorway was hidden behind the bookshelf.
“I must run a quick errand for His Grace. Please speak freely.”
With that, Nathan left Jane alone before she could stop him.
Both Norbert and Nathan were swift in their actions.
Still dazed, Jane was jolted back to her purpose by a breeze blowing through the open window.
Though Cain must have overheard her speaking with Nathan, he hadn’t come out.
Worried she might be turned away at the door, Jane stood before the arched entrance.
Perhaps he hadn’t heard—ever since childhood, he’d always tuned out the world when deeply focused on something.
Thinking she should leave if he was busy, Jane skipped knocking and quietly opened the door.
And froze.
Cain sat directly before her.
Bathed in sunlight pouring through the grand arched window to his right, he looked as though he were part of the sun itself.
He was poring over documents, his brow deeply furrowed in concentration.
Jane found herself unable to speak immediately—she wanted just a little more time to take in his handsome form.
“You’re staring hard enough to bore a hole through me.”
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Sure later Cain wil regret everything he’s done to jane..he only looked the bad side from opposite but never looked inside